"Political parties perform a series of functions in the democracy." Explain the statement with examples.

(i) Parties contest elections.

(ii) Parties put forward different policies and programmes.

(iii) They group a variety of public opinions into a few basic positions, providing direction for government policy-making.

(iv) Parties play a decisive role in making laws.

(v) Parties recruit leaders, train them, and make them ministers to run the government.

(vi) Parties that lose elections act as the opposition. They voice alternative views, criticise government failures or wrong policies and mobilise public opinion against government decisions when necessary.

(vii) Parties raise and highlight issues, often launching movement. They help to crystallise societal opinions along the lines parties support.

(viii) Parties help people access government machinery and benefit from welfare schemes implemented by the government.